Atmosphere

Thermosphere

Above 80 km and extends to space, has the highest temperatures. Contains the upper portion of the ionosphere

Stratosphere

Air planes travel in this layer, the ozone layer is located here

Mesosphere

Shooting stars known as meteors burn up in this layer. Contains the lower portion of the ionosphere

atmosphere

Earth's air, which is made up of a thin layer of gases, solids, and liquids; forms a protective layer around the planet and is divided into five distinct layers.

chlorofluorocarbon

group of chemical compounds used in refrigerators, air conditioners, foam packages, and aerosol sprays that may enter the atmosphere and destroy ozone.

condensation

process in which water vapor changes to a liquid

conduction

transfer of energy that occurs when molecules bump into each other.

convection

transfer of heat by the flow of material

coriolis effect

causes moving air and water to turn left in the southern hemisphere and turn right in the northern hemisphere due to Earth's rotation.

ionosphere

layer of electically charged particles in the thermosphere that absorbs AM radio waves during the day and reflects them back at night.

jet stream

narrow belt of strong winds that blows near the top of the troposphere.

land breeze

movement of air from land to sea at night, created when cooler, denser air from the land forces warmer air up over the sea.

ozone layer

layer of the stratosphere with a high concentration of ozone; absorbs most of the Sun's harmful ultraviolet radioation

radiation

energy transfered by waves or rays

sea breeze

movement of air from sea to land during the day when cooler air from above the water moves over the land, forcing the heated, less dense air above the land to rise.

troposphere

layer of Earth's atmosphere that is closest to the ground and contains 99 percent of the water vapor and 75 percent of the atmospheric gases; where clouds and weather occur

ultraviolet radiation

a type of energy that comes to Earth from the Sun, can damage skin and cause cancer, and is mostly absorbed by the ozone layer.

exosphere

Outermost layer of the atmosphere, satelites are located here

hydrosphere

layer of water on the surface of the earth